The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Impressions

What is it?

Distillery: The Macallan

Name: 12 Year Old Double Cask

Make: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Extra Info: The Macallan are very particular about the casks they select to age their whisky in, believing the cask wood to be responsible for imparting two-thirds of the whisky’s final aromas and flavours. Fast growing American Oak, from Ohio and Missouri, is selected for its dense tight grain structure which imparts lighter flavours of vanilla and fresh fruits to the spirit. Slower growing European Oak, from the northwest of Spain, is selected for its porous grain structure, imparting more tannins and richer flavours of dried fruits and spices.

Why did I buy it?

I didn’t. This bottle was a gift after attending the Sydney Toast The Macallan event in June last year. The event celebrated whisky from The Macallan, but in particular the launch of The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask onto the Australian Market. Sietse Offringa, The Macallan Brand Ambassador and now Head of Education at Edrington,  hosted the event on the night; that's his signature on the bottle. The 12 Year Old Double Cask is matured in a combination of European and American Oak ex-Sherry casks.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Classic Macallan packaging, clean and premium looking.

Appearance: Naturally bright gold in colour and chill filtered for clarity. Bottled at 40% ABV which is the minimum for a whisky.

Aroma: Yeasty, bread dough, sweet vanilla cream and a hint of further sweetness like munching on milk chocolate coated sultanas.

Flavour: Velvety mouthfeel, smooth and light, orange rind but not too bitter, some hot spices prickle the palate towards the finish.

Finish: Medium length, dry, malty aftertaste lasts but spice fades quickly.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, some whisky from The Macallan can be rather expensive, primarily because of their rarity, but the 12 Year Old Double Cask is reasonably priced and commonly available. The Double Cask is lighter than a typical ex-sherry cask matured whisky but I quite enjoyed it.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.